My 11 year old asked what this word meant the other day.  I found it easier to give examples from life rather than the Merriam-Webster version.

Hypocrisy, son, is someone cursing a blue streak and then telling you not to swear.

Hypocrisy is me telling you that you can’t have a piece of your Halloween candy while I take all your M&M’s when you’re not looking.  (I plead the 5th on that one)

Hypocrisy is yelling about pollution of the ‘aina while driving a car and smoking a cigarette.

Today, I found a new example to give my young scholar.

Lorrin Pang, Maui County Health Officer, has been delinquent in turning over his financial disclosure statement for 2015.  I’ll be the first to admit that these laws seem a bit invasive, but they ARE the law.  Mr. Pang is refusing to comply by not turning over details about his income, ownership of businesses, creditors, property, clients, and any outside boards or companies he serves on.  It makes one wonder if he has something to hide.

Now why should we even care about this little lapse in ethics?  Perhaps because Lorrin Pang has made “disclosure” his battle cry this past year.  I can’t tell you how many times I sat in Maui council chambers during testimony about the GMO moratorium and heard Lorrin Pang testify about disclosure and transparency from the seed companies on our islands.  Here’s a little sampling from his summary statement last year at one of these hearings:

 “…better regulation, starts with disclosure.  I think you will find once they disclose, you will be asking for a moratorium.” (See the entire testimony here)

“…the key to all of this is disclosure.” (at 2:52)

Pang and the other “5 Citizens” causing all this ruckus on Maui asked for disclosure of pesticides. Even the Mayor asked for disclosure. How did Monsanto respond?  They disclosed. Right away. They even went above and beyond with reports back to 2012.  We now have 3 years of ‘disclosure’ on the books.  What did we find?  About 12 oz. of active ingredient/acre/year of any given pesticide being used.  A Coke can, my friends!  And how does their pesticide use compare to amounts used around the state?

Less than 1%

This past June, it was Lorrin Pang’s turn to disclose his financials.  He has chosen NOT to comply.  His fine for unethical behavior is a whopping $300 to date.  A tiny slap on the wrist.  I find this reprehensible considering what he put the seed industry through this past year.  Where is the battle cry from the activists?  Disclosure, Mr. Pang!  Are you avoiding this because once you disclose, we might ask for a moratorium on your job?

“…they should have access to all closed doors meetings. We need sunshine and transparency so when we know deals are cut.  If we depending on an educated public, they need sunshine and transparency.  And I believe we had it until the state legislators exempted themselves from it, but the county did not.” (at 9:09)

Wait, aren’t you the Maui County Health Officer Mr. Pang?  Didn’t you just exempt yourself from this disclosure law by not complying?

“…how do we police ourselves?  So the NIH, Federal Regulatory Agency, National Institute of Health, they actually said I think we should define conflict of interest first.  And they listed bribery, (maybe not in this order), nepotism, and it says political activity.  Political activity is listed, (I can show you the reference) along with nepotism and bribery?  I’m not saying all politicians are corrupt but I guess we are to assume they are until proven otherwise?  I don’t know.  Why is it listed with bribery and nepotism?” (at 9:50)

Mr. Pang, have you been involved in politics lately?  Looking forward to a little sunshine and transparency from Lorrin should he choose to comply with Hawaii state law.